Mike Gillis shocks NHL, trades Cory Schneider for Devils for 9th pick

Holy Schneids

The preamble to the 2013 NHL draft promised a day filled with bold moves and intrigue, and the Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis wasted no time supplying the league with both by trading Cory Schneider to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for their 9th overall pick on Sunday.

The trade shocked NHL GMs and fans alike who were previously under the impression that the asking price for Schneider was significantly higher than a single top-10 pick. Instead of receiving a first round pick, second round pick, and a prospect (the alleged price offered to the Flames and Oilers, division rivals) the Canucks immediately selected winger Bo Horvat with the 9th overall pick.

Horvat himself was surprised to be selected so early in the draft, but appears to be a solid prospect after enjoying a very successful year with the London Knights.

“We wanted to get into the top 10 and be able to select a player like this,” Mike Gillis told TSN Sunday.

Horvat was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2013 OHL Playoffs, earning the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award after putting up 16 goals and 7 assists through 21 playoff games.

Rival NHL GM on Schneider deal: "People might be hard on Vancouver for this but Horvat is going to be 1 heck of a player. Solid 2-way guy."

Mike Gillis had his back against the wall when it comes to his goaltending situation.

Despite Horvat’s appeal he will ultimately be compared to Schneider for the foreseeable future. The context of the trade also adds to the scrutiny aimed towards Mike Gillis, and rightfully so. The goaltending situation in Vancouver has long been a circus, and to trade away the young and promising Schneider for a single prospect is disappointing.

A lack of return aside, the entire situation now hinges on Roberto Luongo returning to play for the Canucks after becoming the behind Cory Schneider last season.

“Roberto has been excellent throughout this entire ordeal,” Mike Gillis told TSN immediately after making two bold moves on Sunday. Which is where the Canucks stand now, hoping for Luongo to remain the professional he has been throughout this entire ordeal.

The organization now has only four goaltenders left in the entire organization heading into their 24th overall pick on Sunday and still doesn’t know if their number one will return to play.

This all adds up to an uncertain future for the Vancouver Canucks who could have the avoided the entire situation by buying Roberto Luongo as previous managerial decisions had indicated, however $24-million is a lot for Mike Gillis to ask of a business man in order to cover up his own mistake.